{"id":656,"date":"2019-09-09T01:41:11","date_gmt":"2019-09-09T00:41:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/guernseyvraic.net\/testsite\/?p=656"},"modified":"2019-09-11T17:07:59","modified_gmt":"2019-09-11T16:07:59","slug":"augusta-boston-and-on-to-houlton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foxromeo.net\/?p=656","title":{"rendered":"Augusta -Boston and on to Houlton"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yesterday we left Augusta<\/span>
\nquite a days flying through the complex areas of US airspace Washington New York Boston<\/span>
\npretty straightforward if you can understand what’s said !<\/span>
\nIFR should be easy because you get handed over to the next station but there is a good game here – the controlling stations are not referred to as what you find on the aircraft\/garmin database. so we resorted to looking up the frequency on the iPad and finding a name – surprise – its still a different name. Local knowledge is everything<\/span>
\nGot up to Lancaster (near Gettysburg PA) refuelled and scuttle doff to Norwood Boston<\/span>
\nwe left relatively late morning Saturday. Hurricane Dorian (once again) was forecast to clear Boston are by lunchtime and leave clear skies and blustery winds<\/span>
\nExactly so<\/span>
\nNow anothe habit of US ATC is to leave ou up high until the last minute 11,000 feet – with a mile to go – now descend to circuit pattern (well Im probably exaggerating but we were on top of Norwood and still at 3000ft – completely missed it – looked like a UK disused airfield<\/span>
\nafter two attempts got it in and rendezvous wit Syd at the Holiday Inn<\/span>
\nHoliday in is a reliable chain but in sore need of the odd bit of refurbishment<\/span>
\nAte at the awful chinese on the hotel campus (did I say I liked chinese – no ? just as well)<\/span>
\ndiscussions on plans Sunday morning decided to leave early (leavin M to make here own way to Boston Logan Monday night<\/span>
\nquick rush and were off 3 hours to Houlton where we have to clear customs<\/span>
\nup at 11000 nice cruise, same misunderstanding of what was said – arrived Houlton 15 knot xwind<\/span>
\nNow Houlton presents itself as Houlton Intenrnational.<\/span>
\n\"\"<\/span>
\nNice facilities – but a completely ghost airport. not a person in site<\/span>
\nFortunately the credit card in the fuel worked – tied her down and called for a cab. Had a coffe in the FBO\/reception shack – quite good facilities- a completely deserted clubhouse.<\/span>
\n\"Ted<\/span>
\nBTW that’s Canada just behind the trees.<\/span><\/p>\n

There’s only 2 cab companies in time and both phones went to answer machine<\/span>
\nA third I called said 45 mins, when he did not arrive I checked and he thought we were in Presque Isle 20 odd miles away<\/span>
\nwanted top dollar to come over. We were beginning to think we’d have to bed down there for the night.<\/span>
\nBut eventually (2 hours) hotel owner picked us up and again fortunately there was a pub restaurant on site so we did not have to go into town<\/span>
\nNow hunkering down for day with customs and hopefully off to Goose Bay tomorrow<\/span><\/p>\n

Now I did this transat 12 years sago and stayed in the far north hotel in Goose bay – This hotel has all the same ‘good ole boy’ moose shooting atmosphere – Thats how you know you’re goin’ north.<\/span><\/p>\n

A pleasant night – the Motel had an Irish pub so steak sandiwch and a weak beer and off to bed<\/span><\/p>\n

In the morning I called Troy Fitzpatrick the ‘can do’ CBP officer and we got a lift to the airport for them to inspect the airplane and then off to the Border (Houlton is right on the Canadian Border and there is a customs post on the dual carriwageway. Here Troy and his colleagues went through all the paperwork in a jiffy. When it comes down to it it wasn’t all that complicated – they just needed to eyeball us know we are who we claim to be and are not running away from anything – Very civil\u00a0 – Id also say Troy was a very smart cookie but nice with it – I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up running the show. <\/span>After that we got chauffered back to the aircraft\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is Troy and his sidekick – Ted with the terminal building of Houlton International in the background and N287TB on hte apron with Canada in the farground\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"\u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

On Houlton airfield there is a small factory – Troy informed us it was Smith and Wesson – which makes all the handcuffs for all the law enforcement agencies in the USA – plus some parts for hand guns<\/span><\/p>\n

How about that ? Service with a smile from uniformed CBP officers and a quick tourist bit thrown in – Ya can’t knock it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Yesterday we left Augusta quite a days flying through the complex areas of US airspace Washington New York Boston pretty straightforward if you can understand what’s said ! IFR should be easy because you get handed over to the next…<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Augusta -Boston and on to Houlton<\/span> ›<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

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